A few years ago the watchmen
who were in the light, proclaimed
that the "Day of the Lord" had
come; that the King of kings and
Ruler of rulers had arrived and is
present; that he had taken unto him
his great power, and had begun his
reign.
At that time there was little
or no outward signs of any such
stupendous event; and very naturally,
as clearly foretold, there arose scoffers,
walking after their own desires,
who sneeringly asked, "Where is the
promise of his presence?
(See marginof New Revision)...all things
continue as they were," etc.
Walking
by faith, and not by sight; trusting
the infallible Word of God, the
watchmen proclaimed further as to
what means would be used by the
Stone Kingdom in striking the kingdoms
of earth; that oppressed peoples
would rise against the governments
and throw them down.
It was announced
that the "Times of Restitution"
had begun; and the faithless
asked, Where?
It was also clearly
taught that the time had come when
God's ancient people, the Jews, (beloved
for the Father's sake) would be
stirred up to begin to return to their
own land.
Lastly, the proclamation
went forth, "Babylon has fallen,"
"Come out of her, my people, that
ye partake not of her sins, that ye
receive not of her plagues."

As we said when these announcements
began to be made, there were
but few outward signs.
It required
implicit faith in the Word to believe
that these things were to be fulfilled
in "our day."
Any believer almost
was willing to assent to their being
due two or three generations in the
future.

While the world and a worldly
church still lie in darkness, to those
in the watch tower there has been increasing
light.
Already to any who
have eyes to see, the outward signs
are multiplying.
Day by day we see
all about us increased proof of our
position.
Compare 2 Tim. 3:1-7 with the days we live in, and see if
the picture is not a faithful one.
But
such things have always been, says
some one.
True, to a certain extent,
in accordance with verse 13; but are
we not reaching a climax in wickedness?
Judges, grand juries, and
others who have opportunity to see
and to know these things are alarmed
at the prospect.
The land is flooded
with the vilest literature.
The artist
and the writer vie with each other in
dishing up the horrid feast to the
hungry army.
And who compose
this insatiate and ever-increasing
multitude?
Old and young, rich
and poorwe had almost said saints [?] and sinnerswe will simply say,
church members.
It is not in novels,
story papers, etc., alone that the
poison is found.
If it were, we could
easily keep it out of our homes.
The reporters of the daily press have
caught the infection, and news items
that the briefest note of would be
quite enough, are spiced and seasoned
and served up steaming hot.
If the
facts are few, the reporter draws,
without stint, on his morbid imagination
for the balance.
What kind of
men and women will the rising generation
make, fed on such slops?
It
is not difficult to see the result; it is
already showing itself.
Boys not yet
in their teens are getting quite familiar
with the revolver; a spirit of independence
and lawlessness is revealing
itself everywhere.

Enough of this picture; let us look
at something else.
It has been
announced that the times of restitution
have begun; and that Christ's
kingdom now established, is about
to overthrow the beastly kingdoms
of earth.
Be patient, it will take
time.
The forces are at work; see
all over the earth the people are waking
up and clamoring for their rights
as never before.

Ireland is not alone.
The Irish
are only a little more demonstrative
than some others: the feeling is
universal.

The Czar of Russia has obtained
the title of the Emperor Recluse, because
he is afraid to go out amongst
his beloved [?] subjects.
He has not
yet been crowned (it is a year since
he became emperor).
Plots have
been discovered to blow up both him
and his guests at the coronation, and
it has been postponed.
Failing to
kill him, the Russians have been
amusing themselves robbing and
slaughtering the Jews.

The stories that come to us of these
atrocities read like Indian massacres,
or something worse.
We clip the
following: "In Southern Russia
alone L16,000,000 ($80,000,000) in
property have been lost, 100,000 Jews
rendered homeless, and in 45 places
where reliable statistics could be collected
there have been 40 murders
and 225 women subjected to torture."
We hope, and rather think that the
reports are, as usual, exaggerated,
yet there may have been much that
we have not heard of.
Many are
fleeing to America, but many more
are destitute, and piteously appeal
for help to come.

What does this mean in the light
of prophecy?
It means that we have
reached the period spoken of in Jer. 30:7.
"It is even the time of Jacob's
trouble; but he shall be saved out of
it [read the context].
Their coming
to America is, of course, not returning
to their own land; neither will
they go there in any such multitude
at the first gathering.
The prophecy
says, "Ye shall be gathered one by
one, O, ye children of Israel." Isa. 27:12.
It is well to remember that
there are over 30 years yet to accomplish
this work.
The recent developments
and proposed improvements
in Palestine, and all this trouble
shows plainly that the present Lord
has begun this work also.

What of Babylon?
Are there any
outward signs of her fall?
Very
many.
People are waking up to
investigate as never before.
Reverencefor old creeds is rapidly passingaway. Among some this causes a
searching to know the truth.
(Blessed
are those seekers.)
Among
others it brings nothing but skepticism,
carelessness, and hypocrisy.
Among the masses it produces infidelityan utter disregard for many
of God's laws, and contempt for all
who profess his name.
The trial of
Guiteau has evidently been an instrument
used to bring odium upon the
Christian profession.
The church is
losing its power and falling into disrespect.
The stars are falling: some
one way, some another.
Soon the
lights will be all outnot even a
candle left. Rev. 18:23.
Already
the merchants (priests) complain that
"no man buyeth their merchandise
any more."
Read the clip from the
New York Herald, in this paper,
which shows that some of the denominations
did not average one new
member per church during the past
year.
The membership completely
fails to keep pace with the growth of
the population.
One hopeful mission
statistician is so pleased with the
success amongst the heathen [where
a chief commands and all his people
are numbered in at once], that he
asserts that if Christianity can only hold its own at home the world will in
a few years be converted.
What an [R342 : page 6] idea!
It sounds like the derision of
an enemy.
It looks like an acknowledgment
that what is now preached,
though easily foisted upon and suited
to the ignorant savage, is repudiated
by the intelligent and civilized.
And
is there not much truth in this
thought?
Is it not a fact that the
most intelligent and best of the people
have outgrown the creeds?
Some,
unfortunately, failing to see the whole
truth, have drifted off to sea; others
are boldly attacking error with all
the light they have.
[See article
"Liberty of Protestantism," in Zion'sDay Star for Jan.]

One recent event should demonstrate
to all that the house has been
left desolate.
Where in all the
records of the past did a whole nation,
almost as with one voice, cry to
God in prayer without being answered?
Did God ever do so with his chosen people?
And did not all the
orthodox churches in the United
States pray that President Garfield's
life might be spared?
Even the
infallible [?] Pope mingled his prayers
with those of Ingersoll and the Protestant
churches; and one proved as
potent as the other.

If God has proved unfaithful it is
the first time.
Something is wrong.
It evidently never happened before.
One of two has become unfaithful.
Is it the Unchangeable One? or
rather, has not the hand appeared
and written on the walls of Babylon,
NUMBERED! NUMBERED! WEIGHED!
DIVIDED! and above all in letters of
fire, ICHABOD! W. I. MANN.